ABOUT FAIRHILL

Fairhill, named after the earliest country house in Philadelphia, is a neighborhood in Upper North Philadelphia. The neighborhood spans from 10th Street to Front Street and from Cumberland Avenue to Allegheny Avenue. In the 18th century, the area was known for its farms and country estates, including the Fairhill estate, which played a crucial part in the area's cultural development. The building's owner, Isaac Norris, built this house to embody the country spirit and the simplicity of the local country life, but also modeled the estate after similar estates he had seen while traveling around England. The house was burned during the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Germantown, but was later rebuilt around 1800. Today the area that was once filled with farm land is a vibrant collection of cultures and heritage. The neighborhood is predominantly Hispanic, having 10 times the overall percentage in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the area has also been associated with high crime and drug abuse, mainly because of its publicized drug market as seen in Steve Lopez's novel, Third and Indiana. However the neighborhood is fighting back with highly engaged civic associations and active community watch programs.